Portugal's Evangelicals Criticize Gender Self-Determination Law for Infringing upon Religious Liberties
Hitting the right notes on religious freedom in Portugal
The World Evangelical Alliance (WEA) and the Portuguese Evangelical Alliance (AEP) recently graced the United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC) in Geneva with their thoughts on religious freedom in Portugal. During the 58th session, which finalized the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of Portugal on 24 March, these evangelical bodies welcomed the Portuguese government's intention to address discrimination and intolerance against religious minorities but voiced concerns over increasing political instability, xenophobia, and extremism.
Speaking at the HRC, these alliances expressed gratitude for the Portuguese government's commitment to tackle Islamophobia, hate speech, and other forms of intolerance. However, they raised concerns regarding the growing influence of populist groups and the rise in xenophobic and racist sentiment.
To tackle these issues, they advocated for more comprehensive training for public servants to ensure compliance with the Religious Freedom Law without discrimination. Additionally, they suggested integrating evangelical theological schools and seminaries into the national education system.
The evangelical community appreciates the Portuguese government's focus on protecting freedom of religion and conscience but expressed concern over the implementation of a law banning so-called conversion therapies. The WEA argued that teaching religious views to believers according to one's theology should never be considered a crime.
Portugal remains a peaceful nation with a generally favorable atmosphere for civil liberties, including religious freedom, as recognized by various international indexes. However, specific details on conscientious objection protections and the integration of evangelical theological schools into the national education system are not explicitly covered in the latest public summaries from 2025.
Join us at Evangelical Focus as we work together to ensure religious freedom is protected in Portugal and across Europe. Learn more about our #TogetherInThisMission initiative here.
Published in: Evangelicals in Portugal denounce that the gender self-determination law restricts religious freedom.
While Portugal continues to offer a safe environment for religious practice, recent political shifts and developments concerning conscientious objection and religious education may warrant closer scrutiny, likely requiring examination of Portuguese legal texts and government statements beyond current international overviews.
- The ongoing political shifts in Portugal, particularly the rise in populist groups and the legislation banning so-called conversion therapies, are causing concern within the evangelical community as they might restrict religious freedom.
- The growing interest in examining Portugal's political landscape, beyond general news, is crucial, as the developments in conscientious objection and religious education may impact the country's commitment to upholding religious freedom.
